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others came out from the shadow, and at the same instant five more appeared from the other side.
The cutter was nearly surrounded, and Cushing, turning in the only direction left open, found a schooner filled with troops ahead of him. It seemed now that the game was up; but Cushing's never-failing pluck stood by him. He made a dash in the direction of the western bar, and the enemy endeavored to intercept him; but as the side of his boat that was toward them was in shadow, they lost sight of him for a time.
Taking advantage of a favorable moment, Cushing turned suddenly and headed at full speed for New Inlet.
His coolness communicated itself to the men; the strokes of the oars kept perfect time, and the boat, after a vigorous pull, shot ahead into the breakers.
Here the enemy did not venture to follow; and the cutter was brought back after her three days absence, without any casualty whatever.
Only one serious attempt was made by the Confederates to raise the blockade and put an end to the occupation of the Sounds of North Carolina.
This took place in 1864, when the ram Albemarle made her appearance at Plymouth.
This vessel was built at Edward's Ferry, on the Roanoke River.
Attention had been called to her formidable character as early as June, 1863, by Lieutenant-Commander Flusser, commanding the naval forces at Plymouth, an officer whose bravery and ability had won recognition both in and out of the service.
His vessels could not reach the Ferry, on account of the shallowness of the water and the batteries that lined the bluffs; and urgent representations had been made to the Admiral in command, to the Department, and finally to the Secretary of War, at Flusser's instance.
But no action had been taken, and the work of construction went on without interruption.
By April, 1864, the ram was completed, and preparations were made for a combined movement against the Federal
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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